Display unit



June 26, 1962 c. E. GINGHER ETAL DISPLAY UNIT Filed July 29, 1958 3Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS CARL E G/NGl-IER ATTORNEYS CAPL .e. a/Acflmala.

BY mm 0:1 mm

June 26, 1962 c. E. GINGHER ETAL 3,040,905

DISPLAY UNIT Filed July 29, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS CARL E.G/NGHER CARL E G/NGHERJR- ATTORNEYS June 26, 1962 c. E. GINGHER ETAL3,040,905

DISPLAY UNIT Filed July 29, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS CARL E.G/NGHER CARL E. G/NGHER'JR.

ATTORNEYS United States atent hoe ton, Pa.

Filed July 29, 1958, Ser. No. 751,724 Claims. (Cl. 211--148) The presentinvention relates to a knock-down display unit, more particularly, to adisplay unit which may be readily assembled and disassembled and may becombined with other components into various arrangements as may bedesired.

It is the principal object of this invention it provide a display unitwhose components may be arranged in a number of arrangements so as toprovide an unlimited variety of display opportunities, particularly whenfeaturing merchandise for impulse buying.

It is another object of this invention to provide a flexible displayunit which has considerable rigidity and will easily support theheaviest types of merchandise without sagging or breaking.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a display unitcomprising a minimum of components which are so interfitted with eachother that they may be readily assembled to form a display unit byrelatively unskilled personnel using simple tools and consuming aminimum amount of time.

It is still another object of this invention to provide ashelf-and-bracket arrangement wherein the shelves are supported on thebrackets but are prevented from lateral movement on the brackets by therelationship of the shelf and the bracket.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide a noveldetachable bracket which can be quickly secured into spaced slots in avertical member and can be locked therein.

It is still an additional object of this invention to provide a displayunit from which the back panels can be readily removed and replaced byvarious forms of back panels depending upon the merchandise which isbeing displayed.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide a basic displayunit which can be combined with additional components so as to form avariety of display arrangements both upon the floor and against thewall.

Additional objects and advantages of this invention will be apparentfrom the specification and the drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is an overall perspective view of the display unit of thisinvention;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of one component which is combined with asimilarly shaped component to form an elongated base member;

FIGURE 3 is an over-all perspective view showing the base memberassembled from the components illustrated in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the center vertical member of thedisplay unit showing the upper end thereof;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of one of the end vertical members of thedisplay unit showing the upper end thereof;

FIGURE 6 is an over-all perspective view of the base of the displayunit;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged view of the base connection to an end verticalmember as shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 8 is a perspective view of one of the brackets of the displayunit;

FIGURE 9 is a perspective view of the shelf of the display unit lookingat the under side thereof;

FIGURE 10 is a perspective view showing the bracketand-shelf arrangementemployed in the display unit and looking at the under side of theshelves;

FIGURE 11 is a perspective view showing the upper end of the displayunit with the shelves removed to illustrate the manner in which thepanels are retained in the vertical members;

FIGURE 11a is an over-all perspective view of the cap member showing theunderside thereof;

FIGURES 12 through 14 are perspective views of various arrangementsemploying the basic display unit of this invention; and

FIGURE 15 shows an arrangement of the display unit with the base removedand secured to a wall.

The display unit of this invention essentially comprises a platform-likebase having a plurality of vertical members upstanding from the rearedge of said base with a number of removable panels slidably receivedbetween said vertical members. A cap member is fitted over the upperends of said vertical members to retain the panels in position. Each ofthe vertical members has a plurality of pairs of aligned slots on theface thereof overlooking the base, to receive projections from bracketswhich are detachably secured on the vertical members. A shelf is thenmounted on the brackets with there being a particular relationshipbetween the brackets and the shelf to prevent lateral movement of theshelf upon its supporting brackets.

A specific embodiment of the display unit is illustrated in the drawingsand is subsequently described in detail.

Proceeding next to the drawings, more particularly to FIGURE 1, whereinlike reference symbols indicate the same parts throughout the variousviews, 1 indicates the display unit of this invention. The display unit1 is supported by an elongated base member 2 and a base 3. The basemember 2 is illustrated in greater detail in FIGURES 2 and 3 and isformed in two pieces, one of which is indicated at 4 and is illustratedin FIGURE 2. The base piece 4 comprises a channel 5 having a web 6 andlegs 7 and 8, which are of unequal length. A portion of the leg 7 isremoved at 9 in approximately the center of the base piece 4, toaccommodate a center vertical member in a manner to be presentlydescribed. The web 6 extends beyond the ends of the legs at each end ofthe base piece as indicated at 10 and 11.

A second channel 12, smaller in size than the channel 5, has legs 13 and14 with leg 14 being spot-welded to the web 6 from the channel 5 so thatthe upper edge of the leg 14 is closely adjacent to or may contact thefirst channel leg 7, which is shorter than the channel leg 8.

There are pairs of holes 15 in each of the web extensions 10 and 11, andin the web 6, aligned with the removed portion 9.

To form the base member 2, a pair of base pieces 4 are assembled inopposing relationship as shown in FIGURE 3, so that a groove 16 isformed in the upper edge of the base member. The longer legs 8 of thebase pieces 4 form the bottom edge of the base piece.

A center vertical member 17 is positioned in the removed portion 9 ofthe base member 2. The vertical member 17 is square in cross-section andcomprises channels 18 and 19 joined together by a channel 20 spotweldedto the webs of the channels 18 and 19. There are a plurality of spacedcross pieces 21 between the legs of the channel 20. This arrangementforms vertically extending grooves 22 and 23 on both sides of the centerver tical member 17 There is a series of pairs of slots 24 in the web ofeach channel 18 and 19. There is a pair of holes 25 adjacent the lowerend of each of the channels 18 and 19 for registration with the holes inthe center of the base member 2. There is a backing plate 26 behind eachof the holes 25, and each of the backing plates is tapped in alignmentwith the holes 25. Machine screws are used to secure the center verticalmember to the base member 2.

End vertical members 27 and 23 mounted at each end of the base member 2are similar, and each comprises a channel 29 with the ends of the legsbeing turned in to form flanges 30 and 31. A second channel 32 ispositioned in each channel 29 and facing outwardly toward the flanges 30and 31. There is a plurality of pairs of slots 33 in each of the legs ofthe channel 29. There are a pair of holes 34 in the bottom of each legof the vertical member channel 29 in registration with the holes 15 inthe Web extensions of the base member 2. Each of these holes has abacking plate 35 and is similarly tapped in alignment with said holes.Screws 36 are used to secure the vertical members to the base member.

There is a hole 37 in the top of the web of each end member, with abacking plate 38 which is tapped and mounted on the inner channel 32.

There are four countersunk base holes 39 arranged in pairs in the lowerend of the web of each end vertical member. Each of these holes issimilarly reinforced with a backing plate.

A back panel 40 is slidably received between each of the end verticalmembers and one side of the center vertical member. This back panelcomprises double pegboards 41 attached by spacers 42. The pegboards,however, may comprise any suitable material and may be translucent so asto permit illumination of the merchandise on the shelves of the displayunit from a source of illumination positioned behind the panel of thedisplay unit.

A cap member 43 is secured to the upper ends of each of the end verticalmembers to maintain the vertical members in spaced relation and tosecure the back panels in position. The cap member comprises a channel44 having closed ends 45 and the legs thereof being turned in to formflanges 46. Portions of the flanges are cut away at 47 at the ends andin the center of the cap member to accommodate the end vertical membersand the center vertical member respectively. There is a hole 48 in theedge of the cap member closed ends to accommodate a flat-head screwwhich is received in the cap hole in the upper end of each of the endvertical members.

The base 3 is a platform-like in form and has a height which issubstantially equal to the height of the base member 2 and has a lengthwhich is equal to the length of the said base member. The length of thebase 3 is substantially twice its width. The base is formed of sheetsteel and comprises a top 49, a front edge 50, and side edges 51portions of which extend rearwardly beyond the rear edge of the top asindicated at 52. The length of this extension is substantially one-halfthe width of the square vertical members. There are a pair of holes 53in each of said extensions, and these holes are countersunk so as tocorrespond to the base holes in the vertical members. The countersunkportion of the holes 53 will be tightly received in the countersunkportion of the holes 39, and the result will be a secure connectionbetween the base and the vertical members. The flat-head screws 54, ofthe Allen-head type, complete the connection between the base andvertical members.

Proceeding next to FIGURE 8, there is illustrated a bracket 55 which isdetachably secured in a vertical member and used to support a shelf in amanner to be presently described. The bracket comprises cold rolledsheet steel which has an inherent resilience and is bent insubstantially a U-shaped cross-section as indicated at 56, and is in theshape of a right triangle. The bend which forms the lower end of theU-shaped cross-section comprises the hypotenuse of the triangleindicated at 57. There is a notch 58 at the right angle of the triangle.It is pointed out that the cross-section of the bracket actually tapersoutwardly from the bend so that the legs of the U-shaped cross-sectionare not parallel to each other. A backing piece 59 is spot-Welded toeach of the faces of the bracket upon the brackets 55.

adjacent the short leg thereof. There are a plurality of pairs ofprojections 60 extending outwardly from each of the backing pieces. Eachprojection has a notch 61 on the under side thereof adjacent the edge ofthe bracket and is of a width sufficient to accommodate the steel fromwhich the vertical members are formed. There are a plurality of holes 62adjacent the shorter leg of the bracket. A nut-and-bolt assemblyindicated at 63 may be passed through a pair of aligned holes andtightened to urge the faces of the bracket together after the brackethas been mounted on the vertical member so as to lock the projections ofthe bracket within the slots of the vertical member.

The bracket 55 is not intended for use when it is de' sired to have thetop shelf of the display unit flush with the cap member. When thisarrangement is desired, a bracket is used wherein the projections arespaced below the bottom of the notch 58 instead of extending out fromthe bottom of the notch as shown in the bracket 55. When the projectionsof the top shelf bracket are inserted in the uppermost holes not coveredby the cap member, the top edge of the bracket will be substantiallyflush with the top of the cap member.

FIGURE 9 illustrates the shelf 64 which is positioned The shelf isformed of sheet steel and has rolled-under lips 65 on all sides thereof.The width of the shelf, as indicated at 6 6, is substantially equal tothe length of the bracket upon which it is to be supported.Consequently, as may be seen in FIGURE 10, the outermost lip of theshelf will fit over the end of the bracket and the opposed lip will bereceived in the notch 58 of the bracket. The lips at the ends of theshelf will rest against the outer face of the bracket secured to the endvertical members. This arrangement prevents lateral movement of theshelf and also eliminates projection of the bracket beyond the edge ofthe shelf.

The shelf is mounted on the bracket by first positioning the outer edgeof the shelf over the ends of the brackets and then positioning therearmost lip into the bracket notches.

The above-described display unit constitutes the basic arrangement ofthis invention and can be used for various display purposes. However,this display unit is capable of numerous other arrangements, some ofwhich will be described.

FIGURE 12 illustrates a double arrangement which can be used for anisland display. In this arrangement the display unit 1 has a second base67 attached to the rear thereof, which base 67 is the same as the base3. Additional shelves can be mounted on the rear of the display unit 1so as to be able to display merchandise on both sides of the displayunit.

FIGURE 13 represents an island arrangement wherein a display unitarrangement as illustrated in FIGURE 12 has a third display unitpositioned against the end thereof. Since the length of the base of thedisplay unit is twice its width, it can be seen that the third displayunit 68 fits evenly against the ends of the bases of the island displayunit so that none of the bases present dangerous projections.

In FIGURE 14 there is illustrated a side-by-side arrangement of displayunits wherein a plurality of the display units 1 are assembled inside-by-side relationship with each other.

In FIGURE 15 there is illustrated a wall display unit which comprisesthe display unit 1 without the base. The remaining structure comprisingthe base member, vertical members, back panels, and cap member can bereadily attached to the wall so as to form a wall display structure.

Thus it can be seen that the display unit described above may be readilyassembled and disassembled and has the components thereof carefullyengineered so as to provide many different arrangements depending uponthe display desired. The display unit has a rigidity considerablygreater than that present in known display units and has a considerablestrength so as to enable the unit to support the heaviest forms ofmerchandise. At the same time, the unit has a large degree offlexibility so that various display arrangements may be made.

Instead of providing shelves which are equal in length to the length ofthe base, the shelves may be much shorter so that they cover thedistance between two vertical members. In such an arrangement, theshelves on opposite sides of the center vertical member may be arrangedat different heights so as to present a staggered relationship.

In addition, a cabinet of storage drawers which is of a size to fitexactly upon the base of the display unit may be mounted upon the baseso as to store items which are being displayed. With this arrangement,the unit can be used for both display and storage purposes.

It will be understood that this invention is susceptible to modificationin order to adapt it to different usages and conditions, and,accordingly, it is desired to comprehend such modifications within thisinvention as may fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a knock-down display unit, an elongated base member with the endsthereof comprising spaced opposed faces, a vertical member secured ateach end of the said base member between said spaced faces, said spacedfaces terminating at the outer surfaces of said vertical members, acenter vertical member upstanding from the center of said base member, acap member channel secured to the upper ends of said vertical members, aplatform-like base having a height substantially equal to that of saidbase member and having a length equal to that of said base member, saidbase member being substantially longer than it is Wide, the faces ofsaid base member forming the shorter edges thereof extending beyond therear edge of said base member a distance equal to substantially one-halfthe width of said end vertical members, means securing said extendedfaces to the outer surfaces of said vertical members, bracketsdetachably secured to the faces of said vertical members above said basemember, shelves immovably mounted on said brackets, and back panelmembers slidably received between said vertical members.

2. In a knock-down display unit, an elongated base member with the endsthereof comprising spaced opposed faces, a vertical member secured toeach end of said base member between said spaced faces, said spacedfaces terminating at the outer surfaces of said vertical members, acenter vertical member upstanding from the center of said base member,there being opposed vertical grooves in said vertical members, therebeing countersunk holes on the outer faces of each of said end verticalmembers adjacent the lower ends thereof, a cap member channel secured tothe upper ends of said vertical members, a platform-like base having aheight substantially equal to that of said base member and having alength equal to that of said base member, said base member beingsubstantially longer than it is wide, the faces of said base memberforming the shorter edges thereof extending beyond the rear edge of saidbase member a distance equal to one-half the width of said end verticalmembers, there being countersunk holes on the extended faces of saidbase member which countersunk holes are arranged for registration withthe countersunk holes in said end vertical members, flat-head screwspassing through the holes in said extended faces and said end verticalmembers to secure said base member to said vertcial members, back panelsreceived within the opposed vertical grooves of said vertical members, aplurality of brackets detachably secured to the faces of said verticalmembers above said base member, and a plurality of shelves immovablymounted on said brackets.

3. In a knock-down display unit, an elongated base member with the endsthereof comprising spaced opposing faces, a vertical member secured oneach end of said base member between said spaced faces, said spacedfaces terminating at the outer surfaces of said vertical members, eachof said vertical members having four holes on its outer face adjacentthe lower end thereof, a vertical member upstanding from the center ofsaid base member, a cap member secured to the upper ends of saidvertical members, a platform-like base having a height substantiallyequal to that of said base member and having a length equal to that ofsaid base member, said base member being substantially longer than it isWide, the faces of said base member forming the shorter edges thereofextending beyond the rear edge of said base member a distance equal tosubstantially onehalf the width of said end vertical members, meanssecuring said extended base faces to the two adjacent holes on saidvertical members, a second base member having similar extending facessecured to the other two holes on each of said vertical members on theother side of said base member so as to form a double display unit, backpanel members slidably received between said vertical members, aplurality of brackets detachably secured to the faces of said verticalmembers, and shelves positioned on said brackets and secured thereonagainst lateral movement.

4. In a knock-down display unit, a pair of first channel members eachhaving a second channel with a leg thereof attached to the inner surfaceof the web of each of said first channels, the said second channelsbeing less than one-half the length of said first channel and beingsecured on one side to the transverse center line thereof so thatassembly of said first channel members with the legs extending towardeach other will form an elongated base member having a groove in the topedge formed by said second channels, a vertical post upstanding fromeach end of said assembled first channel members and from the centerthereof, there being opposed vertically extending grooves in saidvertical members, a cap member secured to the upper ends of each of saidvertical members to maintain said vertical members in spaced relation, abase secured to the outer surfaces of said end vertical members, aplurality of brackets detachably secured to the faces of said verticalmembers, shelves positioned on said brackets and secured thereon againstlateral movement, and a back panel member on each side of said centervertical member received in the opposed vertical grooves on saidvertical members and the groove at the top edge of said assembled firstchannel members.

5. In a knock-down display unit, a platform-like base being longer thanit is wide, a plurality of spaced vertical members upstanding from oneof the longer sides of the base, there being a vertical member at eachend of one of said long sides and at the center thereof, there being aseries of pairs of aligned slots in the faces of said vertical membersoverlooking said base, there being opposed vertical grooves in saidvertical members, a cap member secured to the upper ends of saidvertical members to maintain said vertical members in spaced relation, aback panel member on each side of said center vertical member receivedin the opposed vertical grooves of said vertical members, a plurality ofbrackets having pairs of projections on a side thereof for insertioninto said vertical member slots to detachably secure said brackets tosaid vertical members, the brackets for the top shelf having saidprojections lower from the top edge of said brackets so that when saidtop shelf bracket projections are inserted in the uppermost slots notcovered by said cap member the top surface of said top shelf bracketsare substantially flush with the top of said cap member, and shelves onsaid brackets secured against lateral movement thereon with the shelf onthe uppermost brackets being substantially flush with the top of saidcap member.

(References on following page) References Cited in the file of thispatent UNITED STATES PATENTS Sjostrom Feb. 7, 1905 Swart Sept. 5, 1911 5Vance Jan. 15, 1929 Howell Apr. 2, 1935 Schlosser Oct. 22, 1940 McCreaMay 29, 1956 Skar Dec. 4, 1956 10 8 Williams Apr. 2, 1957 Nowicki Apr.16, 1957 Bianchi July 29, 1958 Mader Sept. 2, 1958 Ehlert Aug. 4, 1959FOREIGN PATENTS Switzerland May 31, 1956 Belgium Feb. 27, 1954

